The guacamole Kat makes at the kitchen counter with one eye on the driveway — fresh lime, a little heat, and a lot on her mind.

In Summer in the Moon Garden, there’s a quiet 4th of July moment I keep coming back to. Kat is at the counter making guacamole for the family gathering, and on the surface she’s just stirring a bowl — but underneath, her whole life is reshuffling.

As Kat stirred the guacamole for the holiday gathering, Charlie’s letter resurfaced in her mind… She squeezed fresh lime juice over the avocado mixture, the citrus scent cutting through her brooding thoughts as her gaze shifted to the window. She caught a glimpse of a familiar truck slowing near the driveway before it continued down the road. Was that Danny’s truck? Her heart did a small flip before she forced her attention back to the guacamole.

That’s the thing about a kitchen task — it gives your hands something to do while your heart sorts itself out. Kat keeps stirring, keeps squeezing limes, keeps one eye on the window. The guacamole gets made. The truck slows. Life goes on around the bowl.

So here’s Kat’s guacamole, fresh lime and all. It’s the kind of thing you make while you’re thinking about someone.

Kat’s Fresh Lime Guacamole

Makes about 2 cups · Prep 15 min

Fresh lime is the key — Kat squeezes it right over the avocado, and the citrus cuts through everything.

Ingredients

3 ripe avocados, halved and pitted
Juice of 1–2 fresh limes
¼ cup finely chopped red onion
1 small tomato, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely minced
1 clove garlic, finely minced
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

1. Mash the avocados. Scoop the avocado into a bowl and mash with a fork to your preferred texture — chunky or smooth.
2. Add the lime first. Squeeze the fresh lime juice over the avocado right away. It keeps the guacamole green and brings everything to life.
3. Fold in the rest. Stir in the red onion, tomato, cilantro, jalapeño if using, garlic, and salt.
4. Taste and serve. Adjust salt and lime, then serve immediately with plenty of chips.

What to pour alongside

At the gathering, this guacamole shared a table with Aunt Gertie’s salt-rimmed margaritas — the ones she swore would put hair on your chest.

→ Get Aunt Gertie’s Margarita recipe

And if you’d like to spend the whole summer in Criss Creek with Kat, Danny, and the rest, you can read the opening chapters of Summer in the Moon Garden free by filling out the form below.